When I go to Google Maps, it shows my default location. Often I then search/find a location/address and then want to get Directions from my default location, but there doesn't seem to be an obvious way to do that. When I click on directions, it wants me to type an address. If I start typing the addr of my default location, it doesn't autocomplete or even list it among the choices until I've typed most of it.

I thought "it" (Google Maps or more likely my browser) used to remember the places I'd typed in for the originating address, which enabled me to choose from previous entries in a drop down. But that seemed to disappear once Maps started doing instant search on what I'm typing in the address field.

Ideally I'd like to have a few locations (e.g. home, work) and choose them as the starting point for directions unless I wait to specifically type in an address. But I don't see anything like this.

2 Answers
2

In google maps click "My places" then assign "home" address. Next time you're searching for directions you can simply begin typing "home" into one of the direction fields and it will load your home address. Presumably this works with your "work" location as well.

I think the OP is referring to his current location, which might or might not be his home.
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AlexOct 6 '12 at 11:39

@Chris: you're right. In the desktop Maps, Under My Places, that's marked as a "new" feature and exactly what I was looking for. Nice to see they are still improving the app.
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Cincinnati JoeOct 8 '12 at 3:42

You should be able to see something similar to the following under Maps Web History.

Now if you have a default location fixed into your account, then pointing your browser to http://maps.google.com/ should set you to your default location. To auto-complete previous locations, just start typing the first few letters and it will show up.

Also on the opening Maps page, there is an arrow that leads to recent searches.

I'm not sure exactly which setting you mean. I do notice this now in Google maps: "New! My Places" Maybe I need to set addresses here to have them remembered when I'm getting directions.
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Cincinnati JoeJun 20 '11 at 15:06

I went to the Global Preferences which has a "Location" field. It says the following. But adding this didn't seem to help when I then tried to get directions to a location. Use as the default location in Google Maps, customized search results, and other Google products: This location is saved on this computer. Learn more
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Cincinnati JoeJun 20 '11 at 15:21

Your updated instructions help. When I went to Web History (under Try something new), I had to authorize enabling it. There was nothing particular under Maps at that time. I did some searches and I do see now that it remembers past addresses I used. That is helpful (though I seem to recall Firefox did that automatically before Google went to Instant Search which bypasses that) but it's not exactly what I asked for.
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Cincinnati JoeJun 20 '11 at 16:56